Columnist Mike Heika answered questions in a chat Tuesday. Here are some highlights.

Question: We've see glimpses of greatness and signs of mediocrity with this team. What do you think can be done so that the Stars can compete and win against upper elechon teams?

Heika: It's a process. I look back at the 1995-97 Stars and see names like Gagner and Klatt and Adams and Courtnall and Kevin Hatcher and Cavallini and Moog. Those were very good players, but they were replaced by Nieuwendyk and Langenbrunner and Hull and Zubov and Sydor and Belfour. I'm not saying that's exactly what's going to happen, but Jim Nill needs another off-season or two to make this his team. This edition of the Stars can improve and compete for a playoff spot, but I don't think it will be an upper echelon team until the GM and coach get more time to make changes.

Question: Happy New Year Mike! I know he's young, but what are your thoughts on Big Rig long term? D take so long (hedman, Chara, etc) but in his last two looks I've been very concerned. Should the Stars maybe be thinking about using him as a piece to acquire a more established blue-liner to steady things back there long term? I'm not even sure who I would target aside from the dreams of Suter or Weber.

Heika: His time in the NHL revealed a few warts, and also gave the people in control the belief that he really does need more seasoning in the AHL. There are a lot of comparisons out there for Jamie Oleksiak, and that makes it difficult to assess what he is. On one hand, Zdeno Chara took a long time to develop, moved ahead slowly and eventually became a monster (and still was traded and let go in free agency). On the other, Tyler Myers was great early, hit a wall, and now many people believe he will never live up to his Rookie of the Year hype. Honestly, Oleksiak is his own person, and the Stars are looking at him that way. He has solid skating and puck handling skills, but he's probably a little softer than they would like. So a big part of the process in the minors will be getting him to use his size more. As for a trade, that's in the able hands of Jim Nill. I don't think he will shop Oleksiak, but I definitely think he would use him to get the right player. He showed in trading Loui Eriksson and Reilly Smith that he's not afraid to pull the trigger for the right deal.

Question: Mike, does Colton Sceviour's play while up with the Stars lead to another stint for him later in the year, perhaps after the trade deadline?

Heika: He definitely left everyone with a good feeling about his ability to play in the NHL. Bottom line, he would have been a healthy scratch had he stayed, and the AHL team needed him, so that was the decision to send him down. But, yes, I believe he will be back at some point this season.

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